Facts

Origin of the Appalachian Name

The name of our region derives from the Apalachen natives. Ironically, this agricultural tribe did not live in any of the states that comprise the Appalachian Mountains, but in northern Florida. They were encountered by Spanish explorers in 1528 and their name was transcribed as Apalachee and used in later documents to name the tribe and the region spreading far north of their lands. The name stuck fas subsequent expeditions explored the territories to the north and used variations of Apalachee to name the mountainous terrain. By the mid-16th century, the name found its way onto European maps and over time eventually morphed into Appalachians.